An uninspiring brew

[guypettigrew]

On February 1st I brewed a fairly straightforward beer.

It was 91% Maris Otter, 3.5% pale crystal malt, 5.5% Vienna malt. 43 IBU from 28% Azacca, 22% Amarillo and 22% White Grape hops, with another 25g of White Grape in after the boil to make 100%.

Fermented well and was kegged at day 6, which was 8 days ago.

Nothing wrong with it, but nothing special either. Without wishing to upset anyone it's exactly like Badger best bitter. Except it's about 5.5%!

Having had a few pints over the last few days, it hasn't improved. So I've just opened the keg and added 20g of Fuggle hops. Fingers crossed the taste will become more interesting in a few days.

I've never opened a keg and dry hopped before. I pushed CO2 into the keg after sealing it until gas started leaking back out through the S30 valve. Can't see there will be a problem, but who knows.

Guy

[MashBag]

I have on occasion had a brew that needs fine tuning.

As an alternative I've make up a hop concentrate and added that. Better flavour profiling imo & never fancied the mess of dry hopping. Plus I bottle all my brews, so it feels like another murky step to be cleaned up first.

I suppose I could dry hop from day 4? In the fermenter? Before bottling?

[Eric]

Whole hops act as very effective filters.

[guypettigrew]

I have on occasion had a brew that needs fine tuning.

As an alternative I've make up a hop concentrate and added that. Better flavour profiling imo & never fancied the mess of dry hopping. Plus I bottle all my brews, so it feels like another murky step to be cleaned up first.

I suppose I could dry hop from day 4? In the fermenter? Before bottling?

What 'mess' would that be? The hops go into the keg until the beer is finished, then get disposed of when the keg is washed out.

No mess there!

Guy

[LeeH]

I use the little hop canisters on fishing wire. No mess apart from taking the top off and shaking into a bin.

Dip tubes and poppets block easily.

[guypettigrew]

I use the little hop canisters on fishing wire. No mess apart from taking the top off and shaking into a bin.

Dip tubes and poppets block easily.

Mine's a King Keg. I use a cask hop filter on the back of the tap. Stops the tap blocking. But then it should, shouldn't it, as that's what they're designed to do!

Guy

[MashBag]

I use the little hop canisters on fishing wire. No mess apart from taking the top off and shaking into a bin.

Dip tubes and poppets block easily.

Hop canister would work well for me. My beer doesn't go near a keg. Probably ought to sell them Tbh. It goes straight from the BM20 into bottles.

No popits are harmed in the making of this beer

[guypettigrew]

Seems to have worked. Adding the Fuggle hops to the keg has livened up the taste of the beer.

Guy

[Top Cat]

Coincidence this, I’ve just brewed the Graham Wheeler’s recipe for Guinness.
I’ve brewed it about 6 times now, a very nice drink, but I have been reducing the roasted barley to make it less pronounced and a little smoother (to my taste!).
I think I’ve overdone it, by reducing it by 20%, I’ve lost all the taste! It’s more like a mild than a dry stout.
I’ve still got a cornie keg full and I do have a hop container I could drop in.
Any ideas guys?

[Eric]

Good to hear Guy, well done.

Top Cat, I've not found late or dry hopping makes much difference to GW's recipe, which is the same grain percentages of 70, 20 and 10 of Dave Line's Guinness. Maybe try sticking to the 70/20/10 ratio when, for example, reducing the roasted barley contribution, replace that with Black Malt or Chocolate or some other dark ingredient such as lightly roasting some barley in the oven. That is what I do and for hopping go for 45 or 50 IBU.

[MashBag]

Coincidence this, I’ve just brewed the Graham Wheeler’s recipe for Guinness.
I’ve brewed it about 6 times now, a very nice drink, but I have been reducing the roasted barley to make it less pronounced and a little smoother (to my taste!).
I think I’ve overdone it, by reducing it by 20%, I’ve lost all the taste! It’s more like a mild than a dry stout.
I’ve still got a cornie keg full and I do have a hop container I could drop in.
Any ideas guys?

Make up the flavour you are missing on the stove.
Think 'hop tea'.
Add it but into the brew after trialing in 100ml glass. Works a treat.

[LeeH]

Steep some roasted grains and chuck it in the keg?

Don’t know if that’s a thing or not.

[drjim]

Make a small volume batch with too much roasted barley in and mix the two to taste.

Or just drink it and learn from the mistake!

[Top Cat]

Thanks for your contribution guys.
I’ve got plenty of thoughts to consider, I’ll sort it one way or another, and learn from my mistakes!

[IPA]

Coincidence this, I’ve just brewed the Graham Wheeler’s recipe for Guinness.
I’ve brewed it about 6 times now, a very nice drink, but I have been reducing the roasted barley to make it less pronounced and a little smoother (to my taste!).
I think I’ve overdone it, by reducing it by 20%, I’ve lost all the taste! It’s more like a mild than a dry stout.
I’ve still got a cornie keg full and I do have a hop container I could drop in.
Any ideas guys?

Graham formulated three recipes for Guinness. Foreign Export and two different strength draughts.
As for your loss of taste is that not what Guinness themselves did over the course of years ?